Messina hits RNC over call for corporate money

1/12/12 7:10 AM EST

President Barack Obama's campaign manager, Jim Messina, is going after the Republican National Committee for endorsing the idea of direct corporate donations to candidates and national political parties.

In a video announcing 4th quarter fundraising totals for Obama's campaign and the Democratic National Committee, Messina argued that the RNC's call for a legal ruling allowing donations from corporations shows the GOP isn't interested in more traditional, human political supporters.

"Our opponents don't have the kind of grassroots operation we have. In fact, they don't even believe in it," Messina declares. "Last week, the Republican party filed a court brief asking that corporations be allowed to contribute directly to campaigns. We have a very different view of how to do politics. We think that grassroots campaigns start with small donations and volunteer efforts from people all across this country, people like you."

The Republican National Committee argued in a court filing on Tuesday that the century-old ban on corporate donations is unconstitutional in light of recent Supreme Court precedents. POLITICO first reported on the brief and predicted at the time that it would lead to a reprise of Democratic claims that the GOP is in the pocket of business interests. (Read the brief for yourself here.)

A RNC spokeswoman said the Democrats are giving short shrift to First Amendment rights.

"It's unfortunate the DNC is so willing to waive free speech for any American. The Republican National Committee will stand up for free speech for all Americans who want to take part in the political process in an open, transparent way," GOP spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.

Another GOP operative, who asked not to be named, said it was a bit rich for the Obama campaign to be going after the RNC for courting corporations just as fundraisers for the Democratic National Convention are seeking to rejigger Obama's speaking site to win more corporate cash.

However, a Democratic National Convention spokeswoman said the convention and its host committee are not accepting donations from corporations.

One minor error in the Obama 2012 video: Messina says the RNC filed the brief "last week." In fact, it was filed earlier this week.

UPDATE: This post has been updated with reaction from the RNC and a Republican operative.

UPDATE 2: This post has been updated with comment from a Democratic convention spokeswoman.